CHAPTER 5

On Bloodway

The scareplane dipped through the clouds, and the ghouls looked out the windows to see Boo York beneath them at last. The city rose up closer and closer, and the plane touched down. A fleet of limos whisked the ghouls across the Spooklyn Bridge toward the heart of the city. Cars and taxis honked around them. The ghouls stared in amazement at the shopwindows and the crowded streets. “Big city, bright lights. On our way to living the city life,” sang the ghouls.

The limos pulled up in front of a fancy hotel, and gargoyles in bellhop caps zipped forward to unload a mountain of luggage.

Cleo held out her credit card to one of the bellboys. “Oh yeah, I’m ready, gonna rock this place.”

Cleo took Deuce by the hand, and the ghouls followed them down the avenue to get an up-close look at everything. Banners stretched across the street announcing the arrival of the once-in-thirteen-hundred-years comet, and kids passed them wearing comet T-shirts and comet baseball hats. Everyone was gearing up for the big day.

Clawdeen wanted to check out the fashions at once. “Ghouls, we have to stop in that boo-tique!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, they all rushed in. “Me and my ghouls gonna run this town. We’re gonna break the ground when we come around. Me and my ghouls gonna hit the scene. We’re gonna make real life out of our dreams,” sang the ghouls. They were trying on everything and giving one another a fashion show in the changing rooms. They snapped photos of each other to post online.

Arms linked and singing with happiness, the ghouls boarded the subway, heading to the Forty-Second Screech station. “City streets never sleep. Let’s hit the town every day of the week.

“Call out my name. I’ll be center stage. We’re on our way. C’mon, don’t be late because this is the life. Sittin’ pretty in the city. Yeah, this is the life.”

Their train groaned to a halt, and the ghouls and Deuce skipped out of the subway station into Times Scare. Huge screens flashed with advertisements for all the hit shows. West Side Gory! Avenue Boo! Dreamghouls! Gory Poppins! Screamy Todd! There was so much to see! There was so much to do! A street rapper was dazzling the crowds with his rapid-fire lyrics. His dark eyes glittered, and he grinned when he saw the ghouls. Draculaura snapped a photo of him and the rapper stopped, staring at Catty.

A Ghoulhound bus came to a stop by the curb. Out stepped a beautiful, earnest Jersey moth named Luna Mothews. She spun around in joy and tossed her hat into the air and caught it.

“Boo York City, here I am!” she announced in a lovely voice.

Draculaura stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Draculaura.”

“Luna Mothews. Nice to meet you.”

“And these are my ghoulfriends from Monster High,” said Draculaura, introducing them.

Luna shook Draculaura’s hand enthusiastically, and her suitcases fell to the ground. She giggled. “Nice to meet ya!”

“First time in Boo York?” Draculaura asked.

Luna gazed with wonder at the theater marquees. “Y’know I’ll always be a Boo Jersey ghoul at heart, but I’m a moth and the bright lights of Bloodway are my flame! I’ve been working really hard, and one day you’ll see me up onstage singing my heart out and my name will be up there on those signs!”

Luna fluttered into the air with excitement and bumped into a bored feline.

“Meow!” yowled the werecat.

Cleo whirled around. “Toralei!” she said with shock, recognizing their Monster High classmate. “What are you doing in Boo York City?”

“Whaaat?” asked Toralei. The stylish werecat smiled smugly at Cleo. “Your sister, Nefera, invited me.”

Nefera sidled up to Toralei, grinning. “Admit it, sister,” she said to Cleo. “Having Toralei around always makes things more exciting.”

Toralei purred. “I know I can make it here on Bloodway, and I can sing rings around you, little moth girl.” She began yowling at the top of her lungs in the middle of Times Scare. Tires screeched. A car crashed.

Luna covered her ears. “Wow, huh, no. Not so much.”

But Toralei didn’t care. “See you in show business. ’Course you’ll have to buy a ticket.” She laughed.

Toralei stepped into a waiting limo.

Frankie handed Luna her luggage. “Good luck on Bloodway, Luna.”

“Thanks,” said Luna. “But in theater we say break a leg.” A bright light caught Luna’s attention and with a moth’s perfect instincts, she flew toward it, mesmerized.

The ghouls linked arms and danced down the street together, taking in the energy and the dazzle of the city. Taxis honked, friends called out to one another, and music blasted from every street corner.

“There are so many talented performers everywhere!” gushed the ghouls.

A huge crowd was clustered around a robot DJ making electronic music right there on the sidewalk.

“Hey, look at that!” exclaimed Clawdeen.

In front of the robot was a holographic turntable, and she was spinning discs with wild abandon. The crowd cheered as one song ended with a flourish, and another song began. Lights pulsed and flashed around the DJ. Everyone started dancing. When she was done, the crowd cheered, and the robot DJ took a bow.

Frankie loved it. “That was amazing! Voltageously electric!” The bolts on her neck sparked.

The DJ’s turntable vanished, and she bowed to the ghouls. “Thanks! You ghouls from out of town?”

“Monster High, actually,” said Draculaura.

“Welcome to Boo York. My name’s Elle Eedee.” With a wave of her hand, she created a flourish of electronic notes.

Cleo stepped forward dramatically. “Well, I’m Cleo de Nile… of the De Niles.”

“Ah!” said Elle, recognizing the name. “You must be here for that gala I’m gonna DJ tomorrow night. That comet must be super important. I heard the Ptolemys are hosting that gala.”

Cleo gasped. In all the excitement, she had forgotten she was here with her family and not just her friends. She had obligations. She had important places to be. “Oh. My. Ra! I forgot. Nefera and I are supposed to be at Ptolemy Tower this afternoon for a meet and greet. We’ll have to catch up with you ghouls later. C’mon, Deuce.” She grabbed her boyfriend by the arm.

“You know,” gulped Deuce. “I could just skip the…” But Cleo was already dragging him down the street.

A slug monster passed, pushing a huge cart of comet souvenirs down the street. It was overflowing with comet bobble heads, comet baseball hats, comet jewelry, comet T-shirts, and even stuffed comets.

“Getcha comet shirts here!” shouted the slug. “Show ’em you saw da comet by wearing a T-shirt.” Boo Yorkers were crowding around the cart, handing him wads of cash.

“Whoa!” gushed Frankie. “Boo York is so exciting! There’s so much to do and see!”

Catty’s eyes were sparkling. “It’s overwhelming. It’s giving me ideas!”

“Ideas? Ideas for what?” asked Draculaura.

Catty blushed. Maybe it was time to confide in her friend. “I haven’t been able to write new songs,” she admitted. “I don’t know what to write about. I just can’t find my music.”

A guitar-playing beast strolled past them, strumming and singing.

“If you can’t find it in Boo York, it doesn’t exist!” Frankie giggled.

Draculaura agreed. “Perhaps you can end your frighter’s block. You’ll find your music!”

Catty looked around her. It wasn’t just music she needed. It was love. “A ghoul can dream,” she whispered. “A ghoul can dream.”